ello so This is my senior year of Highschool and as we are starting school up tomorrow, the thought of college is a must. I really am interested in studying abroad in Germany or the Netherlands, I already have some experience speaking both languages, but I want to study abroad for 4 years. So my question is should I apply to a international school directly or through a US university. Also if anyone has gone through this what is the application process like and is it tough to get in?
Are you American or international? If you want to study all four years abroad you do not apply through a US university unless you are talking about something like NYU Abu Dhabi.
I’m American
Pretty much no school allows you to study all 4 years abroad as almost all have residency requirements (at the least, 2 of 4 years at your home school). You could consider the university colleges in the Netherlands.
I’m not sure about going to college in the Netherlands, but I do know something about Americans going to college in Germany.
First, your German has to be good enough to pass their German as a foreign language test (TestDaF). It’s tough - particularly the written portion - but better to know ahead of time whether or not you’ll be able to write your academic papers in German. The test is hard, but people who really want to go to school there manage to make it happen. I bet you could, too. (That being said, I think there are a few programs in Germany that are taught completely in English. Google might help you figure that one out.)
German secondary education is tiered, and generally speaking, only students who have completed the highest tier and received their “Abitur” are allowed entry to university. American high school students don’t qualify for direct entry into a German Universität or Fachhochschule unless they fulfill certain criteria. The website of the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) is the definitive source of information for foreigners wanting to study in Germany.
Here’s a link to their page about the language requirements: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/nach-deutschland/voraussetzungen/en/6221-german-language/
Here’s a link for more on the admissions requirements: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/nach-deutschland/voraussetzungen/en/6017-admission-requirements/
Here’s a link to a blog written by an American who has studied in Germany for years. I highly recommend reading through some of her posts for insight into what it’s like being an expat and going to school. I’ve never met this person, I just stumbled on her blog and bookmarked it for an occasion just like this one. http://www.welcometogermerica.com/search/label/Studying%20in%20Germany
Finally, if you want to make the investment, you can hire someone to help you. This is what I’ve done even though I’m married to a German and studied in Germany myself (back in the stone age). Yes, I could have figured everything out on my own, but I’m too busy trying to figure out how to navigate the “going to college in the U.S.” part. I needed help somewhere.
Eight Hours and Change is the advising service I’m using. Even if you’re not interested in paid advising, their website is a great source of information. Their whole purpose for being is to help Americans transition to studying in Germany, so they know what kinds of information you’re looking for - as well as what you don’t yet know you need. Earlier I told you about the entrance requirements, well, this page has the German Hochschul admissions requirements in a one page infographic: http://www.eighthoursandchange.com/information/
So there you go. You’ve got the official DAAD website (dry, but oh so official), the blog (entertaining and informative), and the advising website packed with things you didn’t know you wanted to know about.
I hope this helps.
If you want to study abroad all 4 years, you will not be doing so through a university here in the US. You will be doing direct applications.
Thanks so much this is so helpful since college is right around the corner
Make sure you apply to a few American universities too, just in case.